High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, Division of Water Quality

Metadata also available as

Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, Division of Water Quality
Abstract:
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality in cooperation with the NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, developed the GIS data set, High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, to enhance planning, siting and impact analysis in areas directly affecting waters considered as having excellent (high) water quality or designated as an outstanding resource. Point and non-point source pollution management strategies are applicable to these waters. Zones in North Carolina were developed from NC DEM Stream Classification Schedule, October 1, 1992. The 1:100,000-scale streams classified as "HQW" had a one mile buffer generated around them. If the watershed boundary was closer than one mile, it was digitized from 1:24,000-scale topographic quads and superseded the one-mile buffer. The 1:100,000-scale streams classified as "ORW" had a buffer generated around them of 575 feet.
Supplemental_Information:
system filename: hqorwdwq file size = 1.0 mb

Revisions and updates to this layer include:

(UT = unnamed tributary)

8.) filename: hqorwdwq1099

The October 1, 1999 update consisted of:

a.) HQWZ boundary added around Thorpe Lake (Glenville, Big Ridge,

Highlands 24k quads / Fontana Lake 100k quad).

b.) HQWZ boundary added around Armstrong Creek (Celo, Little Switzerland

24k quads / Asheville 100k quad).

c.) HQWZ boundary added around Toms Creek (Little Switzerland, Marion West

24k quads / Asheville 100k quad).

d.) HQWZ boundary added around Mill Creek (Montreat, Old Fort 24k quads /

Asheville 100k quad).

e.) HQWZ boundary corrected around Mackey Creek (Old Fort 24k quad /

Asheville 100k quad).

f.) ORWZ boundary added around two portions of Indian Creek (Handing Rock

24k / Winston-Salem 100k).

g.) ORWZ boundary corrected near Bunches Creek (Bunches Bald 24k

quad / Knoxville 100k quad).

h.) 575 foot HQWZ buffer added around Ut to New River (Rufus Creek)

(New River Inlet 24k quad / New River 100k quad).

i.) HQW buffer removed from around Juney Whank Branch -- this Branch

is classified WS-II Tr (Bryson City 24k quad / Fontana Lake 100k quad).

j.) HQW buffer corrected around Mackey Creek (Old Fort 24k quad /

Asheville 100k quad).

7.) filename: hqorwdwq1298 The December 1998 update to this layer

consisted of projecting the data from NAD27 datum, State Plane

projection, units of measure feet TO: NAD83 DATUM, State Plane

PROJECTION, UNITS OF MEASURE METERS. This was done to comply with

the NC Geographic Information Coordinating Council's

"Statement of Direction for North Carolina Corporate Geographic

Database Horizontal Reference, Datum and Unit of Measure". This

reprojecting was done in various ways depending on the data type

and content. Vector data was projected using the 'project' command

in ESRI's Arc software and topology was cleaned and built based on

coverage needs. Raster data was projected using ESRI's Grid module

and various steps as applicable.

6.) filename: dwqhqorw1296 The name of this file

was changed from hqworwz to its current name at the request of the DWQ.

The December 11, 1996 update consisted of:

a.) 575 foot ORWZ buffer added around UT to Swan Creek Lake (Engelhard

NW, Engelhard East and Engelhard West 24k quads / Manteo and Plymouth

100k quads).

b.) 575 foot ORWZ buffer added around UT to Swan Creek (Engelhard NW

and Fairfield NE 24k quads / Manteo and Plymouth 100k quads).

c.) 575 foot ORWZ buffer added around UT to Alligator River (East Lake

and Buffalo City 24k quads / Manteo 100k quad).

d.) ORWZ boundary corrected around South Fork New River (Jefferson

24k quad / Boone 100k quad).

(The name of this file was changed again 4/20/96 to hqorwdwq to put

the agency name at the end. No other changes were made on 4/20/96.

This 4/20/96 file was not archived.)

5.) filename: hqworwz496 The April 9, 1996 update consisted of:

a.) ORWZ boundary corrected in small area near Rogers Bay (Spicer

Bay 24k quad / Wilmington 100k quad).

b.) ORWZ boundary corrected in small area along the Intracoastal

Waterway (Sneads Ferry 24k quad / New River 100k quad).

c.) Missing 575 foot buffer added along ORW edge of Harkers Island

and Browns Island (Harkers Island 24k quad / Morehead City 100k quad).

d.) Buffer removed from around Johnson Creek -- this Creek is

classified SA only (Horsepen Point and Davis 24k quads / Morehead

City 100k quad).

e.) Buffer removed from around Great Island Creek, Horse Island

Creek, and Fortin Bay -- these are classified SA only (Davis

24k quad / Morehead City 100k quad).

f.) Buffer removed from around Gutter Creek -- this Creek is

classified SA only (Styron Bay 24k quad / Morehead City 100k quad).

g.) 575 foot buffer fixed along outer banks (Wainwright Island 24k

quad / Morehead City 100k quad).

4.) filename: hqorwdwq396 The March 13, 1996 update consisted

of a UT pond buffer that was removed which affects the

Wilmington 100k (Scotts Hill 24k quad) area. A portion of

an ORW buffer was clipped off where Black River flows into

Cape Fear River which affects the Whiteville 100k (Leland 24k

quad) area. Buffers were added for the following small ORW

streams: Caggs Creek, Iron Creek, Willis Creek, Maria

Creek, and Oyster Creek which affects the Morehead 100k

(Horsepen Point 24k quad) area. A UT pond and a stream buffer

were removed which affects the Manteo 100k (East Lake and

Buffalo City 24k quad) area. Lastly, a UT pond and a stream

buffer were removed which affects the border of Manteo and

Plymouth 100ks (Engelhard NW, Engelhard East, Engelhard West,

and Fairfield NE 24k quad) area.

3.) filename: hqw395 (previously called nc.hqw495)

The March 7, 1995 update consisted of

100k stream classification changes to a long strip of Black

River and South River in Bladen, Sampson, and Pender counties.

The Elizabethtown and Whiteville 1:100,000-scale quadrangles

were affected.

2.) filename: hqw1194 (previoulsy called nc.hqw112894)

The November 28, 1994 update consisted of new boundaries

around Six Runs Creek, Black River, and South River, located

on the Elizabethtown 1:100,000-scale quad. These edits were

necessary because of recent 100k stream classification changes.

1.) filename: hqw494 (previously called nc.hqw494)

The April 1994 versions was the original version of this layer.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    NC DENR, Division of Water Quality, 19991001, High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, Division of Water Quality: NC DENR, Division of Water Quality, Raleigh.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: NCCGIA distributes this dataset

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -84.029
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.657
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.588
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.895

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: Apr-1994
    Ending_Date: 01-Oct-1999
    Currentness_Reference: Data creation and revision dates

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: None
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Complete chain (612)
      • GT-polygon composed of chains (176)
      • Node, planar graph (580)
      • Area point (175)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: State Plane Coordinate System 1983
      State_Plane_Coordinate_System:
      SPCS_Zone_Identifier: 3200
      Lambert_Conformal_Conic:
      Standard_Parallel: 34.333
      Standard_Parallel: 36.167
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: 79.000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 33.750
      False_Easting: 609601.22
      False_Northing: 0.000

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 1
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 1
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    High quality water and outstanding resource water management zones, Division of Water Quality
    Waters surrounding regions of streams or bodies of water identified as having excellent (high) water quality or designated as an outstanding resource. (Source: NC DENR-Division of Water Quality)

    AREA
    Total area in coverage units (Source: software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:513484992.000
    Units:meters
    Resolution:.001

    PERIMETER
    Total perimeter in coverage units (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:135.350
    Maximum:4803078.500
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.001

    HQORWDWQ#
    Polygon internal identification number (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:176
    Resolution:1

    HQORWDWQ-ID
    Polygon internal identification number (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:175
    Resolution:1

    CLASS
    Identifier of HQW or ORW (Source: NC DENR-Division of Water Quality)

    Frequency of measurement: As needed

    ValueDefinition
    HQWHQW (High Quality Waters) is a supplemental classification intended to protect waters with quality higher than the minimum state water quality standards. These waters are rated as excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through Division monitoring or special studies. Only waters which have the HQW supplemental classification have HQW specific requirements and therefore appear in the GIS High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones data layer. (Waters with at least as stringent protection requirements, and therefore HQW by definition, include those classified as WS-I, WS-II and SA. These waters do not carry the HQW supplemental classification, and are not included in the HQW/ORW Management Zones layer.)
    ORWORW (Outstanding Resource Waters) is a supplemental classification intended to protect unique and special waters having exceptional state or national recreational or ecological significance.

    ACRES
    Total acres (Source: software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:126884.484
    Units:feet
    Resolution:.001

    High quality water and outstanding resource water management zones, Division of Water Quality
    Waters surrounding regions of streams or bodies of water identified as having excellent (high) water quality or designated as an outstanding resource. (Source: NC DENR-Division of Water Quality)

    FNODE#
    From-node identifier of linear feature (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:580
    Resolution:1

    TNODE#
    To-node identifier of linear feature (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:580
    Resolution:1

    LPOLY#
    Internal number of poly to left of arc (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:176
    Resolution:1

    RPOLY#
    Internal number of poly to right of arc (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: None planned

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:174
    Resolution:1

    LENGTH
    Length of arc in coverage units (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: As needed

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.046
    Maximum:71474.242
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.001

    HQORWDWQ#
    Internal feature number (Source: Software computed)

    Frequency of measurement: As needed

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:612
    Resolution:1

    HQORWDWQ-ID
    Internal identification number (Source: User defined)

    Frequency of measurement: As needed

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:612
    Resolution:1

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    A polygon coverage depicting waters surrounding regions of streams or bodies of water identified as having excellent water quality in association with an outstanding resource, as classified by the Division of Environmental Management. The polygon attribute table (PAT) has attribute data including total area in coverage units (square meters), total perimeter (linear meters), acres, polygon internal identification number, polygon user identification number, and an identifier of HQW or ORW. HQWs are uniquely managed, separate from other classifications (i.e; WS-I, WS-II, etc). All designations are classified by DWQ. The arc attribute table contains default items only.

    HQORWDWQ.PAT Polygon Attribute Table

    COLUMN ITEM NAME WIDTH OUTPUT TYPE DEC DESCRIPTION

    1 AREA 4 12 F 3 Total area in meters

    5 PERIMETER 4 12 F 3 Total perimeter in meters

    9 HQORWDWQ# 4 5 B - Poly internal id number

    13 HQORWDWQ-ID 4 5 B - Poly user id number

    17 CLASS 3 3 C - Identifier of HQW or ORW

    20 ACRES 4 12 F 2 Acres per polygon

    HQORWDWQ.AAT Arc Attribute Table

    COLUMN ITEM NAME WIDTH OUTPUT TYPE DEC DESCRIPTION

    1 FNODE# 4 5 B - From-node id of linear feature

    5 TNODE# 4 5 B - To-node id of linear feature

    9 LPOLY# 4 5 B - Left-side polygon id of linear

    feature

    13 RPOLY# 4 5 B - Right-side polygon id of linear

    feature

    17 LENGTH 4 12 F 3 Length of linear feature in meters

    21 HQORWDWQ# 4 5 B - Internal id number

    25 HQORWDWQ-ID 4 5 B - Internal id number

    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: None


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Division of Water Quality

    Water Quality Section

    Water Quality Staff, Boyd Devane

    NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources

    512 N. Salisbury Street

    Raleigh, NC 27604-1148

    NCCGIA Director, Karen Siderelis

    Database Administration, Zsolt Nagy

    Database Management, Ken Shaffer

    Project Manager, Cheryl Pearce

    North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

    Governor's Office

    Office of State Planning

    301 North Wilmington Street, Suite 700

    Raleigh, NC 27601-2825

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Boyd Devane
    NC DENR Division of Water Quality
    512 N. Salisbury Street
    Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-1148
    U.S.A.

    (919) 733-5083 ext. 559 (voice)
    (919) 715-5637 (FAX)
    boyd.devane@ncmail.net

    Hours_of_Service: 8am to 5pm
    Contact_Instructions: Preferred contact is by mail or telephone.


Why was the data set created?

This data was created to assist governmental agencies and others in making resource management decisions through the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS).


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    None (source 1 of 4)
    NC DENR - Div. of Water Quality, 19961211, High Quality Water Zones: NC DENR - Div. of Water Quality, Raleigh, North Carolina.

    Other_Citation_Details: Data is updated as needed
    Type_of_Source_Media: Paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
    Source_Contribution: High Quality Water Zones and stream classification schedules

    None (source 2 of 4)
    NC DENR - Div. of Water Quality, 19961211, Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones: NC DENR - Div. of Water Quality, Raleigh, North Carolina.

    Other_Citation_Details: Data is updated as needed
    Type_of_Source_Media: Poly film
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000
    Source_Contribution:
    Outstanding Resource Water Zones and stream classification schedules

    None (source 3 of 4)
    Survey, US Geological , 1990, USGS 7.5 Minute series quadrangles: US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

    Other_Citation_Details: Published map series
    Type_of_Source_Media: Poly film
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
    Source_Contribution: Paper maps used to delineate the high quality water zones

    None (source 4 of 4)
    Survey, US Geological , 1986, USGS 30 x 60 Minute series quadrangles: US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

    Other_Citation_Details: Published map series
    Type_of_Source_Media: Poly film
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 100000
    Source_Contribution:
    Paper maps used to delineate the outstanding resources water zones

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 11-Dec-1996 (process 1 of 2)
    HQWORWMZ boundaries were generated from stream classifications given by DENR-DWQ to the USGS 1:100,000-scale hydrography in North Carolina's Corporate Geographic Database. DEM supplied CGIA with information on the individual streams and what their water quality classifications should be. If a stream was classified as being HQW or ORWMZ, then a boundary was created to encase that particular stream. Once CGIA was finished in creating this data layer, DEM reviewed the work for accuracy and recommended and identified any needed edits.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Boyd Devane
    NCDENR-Division Water Quality
    Environmental Supervisor
    512 N. Salisbury Street
    Raleigh, North Carolina 27604-1148
    U.S.A.

    (919) 733-5083 559 (voice)
    (919) 715-5637 (FAX)
    boyd.devane@ncmail.net

    Hours_of_Service: 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
    Contact_Instructions: Phone or electronic mail
    Date: 11-Dec-1996 (process 2 of 2)
    The USGS 1:100,000-scale hydrography which was classified as being of HQW or ORWMZ value were selected to have their boundaries generated. Those streams classified as being HQW, or any part of an HQW designation, had their watershed boundaries digitized if they fell to within one mile of the stream. If the boundary was further that one mile, the stream was buffered one mile and the resulting buffered polygon was integrated with any part of a digitized boundary that may have existed. Boundaries were digitized from contour lines on USGS 1:24,000-scale paper topo maps. Those streams classified as being ORWMZ, or any part of an ORW designation, were buffered 575 feet.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Cheryl Pearce
    NCCGIA
    GIS Analyst
    301 North Wilmington Street, Suite 700
    Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-2825
    U.S.A.

    (919) 733-2090 (voice)
    (919)715-0725 (FAX)
    dataq@cgia.state.nc.us

    Hours_of_Service: 8:30AM - 5:30PM
    Contact_Instructions: Phone and electronic mail preferred
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 1984, Hydrography (1:100,000) Digital Line Graphs: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    This data was edited at NCCGIA to include all inland waterways for which the Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section, Planning Branch has a stream classification code.


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    NC CGIA digitized the HQW boundaries from paper USGS 1:24,000 topo maps and attributed them with DEM classifications of HQW or ORW. The digital files were plotted and overlayed to the originals label corrections were made.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    High Quality Waters were marked on 7.5 Minute USGS paper topographic maps, and Outstanding Resource Water were generated from 30 x 60 Minute series USGS digital line graphs, both of which meet National Map Accuracy Standards, using a best estimate with reference to surrounding features. Boundaries drawn were digitized and check plots used to ensure correct boundary location within a line-width.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    These data represent the locations of waters surrounding regions of streams or bodies of water identified as having excellent (high) water quality; or, designated as an outstanding resource in North Carolina, as mapped by the NC DWQ. Each polygon is labeled as either HQW or ORW. All boundaries are approved by DWQ, whether they are the original DEM boundaries or changes to original boundaries submitted for revision by local or county governments.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Using ESRI's ARC/INFO GIS software, the data set was built for polygon topology using the "build" command. The data set was then cleaned with using the 'clean' command. Topology has not been edited since the last build or clean.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
Acknowledgement of products derived from this data set should cite the following: The source of the High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, Division of Water Quality is the North Carolina Corporate Geographic Database. Earlier versions of this dataset may exist. The user must be sure to use the appropriate data set for the time period of interest. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the state of the art, CGIA cannot assume liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by any inaccuracies in the data or as a result of changes to the data caused by system transfers.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
    Production Services
    301 North Wilmington Street, Suite 700
    Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-2825
    USA

    (919) 733-2090 (voice)
    (919) 715-0725 (FAX)
    dataq@cgia.state.nc.us

    Hours_of_Service: 8:30AM - 5:30PM
    Contact_Instructions:
    For current price information use a web browser: COST INFORMATION - <http://www.cgia.state.nc.us/cost.html>
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Zones Management Zones, Division of Water Quality

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    NCCGIA is charged with the development and maintenance of the State's corporate geographic database and, in cooperation with other mapping organizations, is committed to offering its users accurate, useful, and current information about the state. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop the corporate database may be reflected in the data supplied. The client must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. NCCGIA does not support secondary distribution of this data. The use of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the NCCGIA or North Carolina State Government.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    Data creation and large data analysis jobs contact Database Administration P:(919)733-2090. All data is available through standard ordering procedures on a cost recovery basis.

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    All formats supplied are created using ARC/INFO GIS software on Unix workstations. Other formats are available. Format compatibility is the user's responsibility. For more information on formats and media, use a web browser: FORMAT/MEDIA INFORMATION - <http://www.cgia.state.nc.us/cost.html>


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 17-Aug-2000
Metadata author:
North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis
Database Management
301 North Wilmington Street, Suite 700
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-2825
USA

(919) 733-2090 (voice)
(919) 715-0725 (FAX)
dataq@cgia.state.nc.us

Hours_of_Service: 8:30AM - 5:30PM
Contact_Instructions: Phone and electronic mail preferred
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)


Generated by mp version 2.8.11 on Thu Apr 15 11:07:06 2004